School:Nonkilling studies

In the circle of the universe, Creative transformational initiatives (blue), drawing upon nonkilling human capabilities (white), work to end human killing (red). Emblem of the School of Nonkilling Studies.

The School of Nonkilling Studies is an interdisciplinary learning platform focused on the development of knowledge and skills for a killing-free world. Nonkilling, as presented by Paige (2002; 2007), refers mainly to a form of society where killing, threats to kill and conditions conducive to killing are absent. This model entails a deep transformation of those societal premises routed in the wide acceptance of violence (in all of its forms) but, consequently, also the refutation of mainstream killing-accepting science, from politics to biology. Following this dynamic, the School includes both training and research projects, with a permanent flow of contents and feedback from both approaches.

The educational curriculum follows the logic of nonkilling analysis and challenges engagement in discovery of principles and processes for effective problem-solving action. The School's programs explore the causes of killing, nonkilling, transitions, and hypotheses about the characteristics of nonkilling societies. From this perspective, historical developments of institutions and processes, locally and globally, are examined. Problem-solving challenges are posed—such as homicide, democide, genocide, and disarmament; economic lethality; human rights atrocities; ecological biocide; and destructive divisiveness versus cooperation across diversity. Opportunities to develop skills in modes of problem-solving engagement are offered: research, teaching, servant leadership, and critical communication. On these foundations individual and group projects to solve problems and develop skills are pursued and presented (Paige, 2002: 151).

As for the research agenda, the main premise is that killing must move from the violence-accepting periphery to the center of analytical and problem-solving. Therefore, efforts concentrate in understanding the causes of killing; the causes of nonkilling; the causes of transition from killing to nonkilling and vice versa; and the characteristics of completely killing-free societies. Such knowledge is needed to assist identification of nonkilling alternatives and transformative actions within and across the converging zones of the funnel of lethality: neuro-biological, structural, cultural, socialization, and killing zones (Paige, 2002:150).

The Center for Global Nonkilling will be offering a Certificate on Nonkilling Studies to those who complete Program requirements. These will include a series of readings to be organized in a learning resource (soon!) plus course work that will either create or expand nonkilling contents focusing on a new aspect to be included at the School of Nonkilling Studies or the significant development of one or more entries.

The School of Nonkilling Studies requires experienced Wiki users to edit and refine some of its contents. Courses at the Interdiscipinary Program on Nonkilling Studies are based on MsWord files and some information (references, quotes, italics, ...) could have been lost during the conversion into Wiki articles. Volunteers should have an interest for nonkilling and/or disciplinary areas and are encouraged to expand existing contents with their own contributions. For further information please send an email.

As a form of rewarding Wikiversity and Wikipedia users who have significantly contributed to expand and develop nonkilling knowledge, the School of Nonkilling Studies has created a Nonkilling Barnstar (Barnstar 17). It is the custom to reward Wikipedia contributors for hard work and due diligence by extending an award called a "barn star", as a continuation of the "barn raising" metaphor.